Get Unstuck: The Power of Finishing Strong

Staying motivated and keeping it up, whether you’re seeking big changes in your life or just need to find a way out of the rut you’re in, is no easy feat. This is especially true in a society where convenience is the norm, and constantly-updating technology allows us to do things that would’ve taken our ancestors hours, days, weeks, even years to accomplish. These things aren’t inherently bad per se. But oftentimes to get unstuck, the power of finishing strong must be utilized. 

Sometimes the easy-out and speediest resolution can be detrimental to your health. Go ahead and read that sentence again. We are conditioned to want only the best at the cheapest price in the quickest time. Instant gratification and unlimited choices in every type of product or service we can imagine seems like the greatest gift in the world, but the ramifications of such a “perfect” predicament are perilous at best.

If everything were easy all the time, what does it mean to truly be alive? To be human is to both struggle and overcome. There would be no joy of achievement or resolve for growth and change without a little grit. Mental health care and practice have similar nuances. If there was a happy pill and one had access to their therapist 24/7, life would/could be grand, right? Keep reading…

We could insert here several more platitudes about the vitality of putting in the hard work in order to see the change you want to see, whether in your own life or in the world. We’ll just boil it down to the phrase “you are exceptional, but not the exception.” (This attempt at a concentration of the theme is an instance where a shorter path is probably better. Less is more here.) Putting forth the effort mindfully (i.e., never forcing things) is typically pretty synonymous with inconveniencing yourself. This develops habits that our brain uses to efficiently repeat similar processes. 

Our brains are naturally designed to build heuristics. Brains love making shortcuts and building efficiencies. While we at Simply Psych are fans of efficiency, we err on the side of quality over quantity. The shortest route may indeed be the best route sometimes, but definitely not every time. Letting our brains grow and learn and develop so our cognition can find ways to minimize input to maximize output is part of evolving. But there are times these heuristic shortcuts can be individually and socially dangerous.

Take ADHD for example. The symptoms sound straightforward: trouble focusing, concentrating, paying attention. But when you put those concerns in an individual’s context (e.g. they just went through a breakup, family kicked them out, they just got a huge new promotion that is actually three separate jobs in one), there’s a pretty good reason for being distracted that is better explained than ADHD.

Yet there are mental health “mills” coming online that offer “fast and cheap” solutions to mental health problems. (We aren’t going to waste your time by showing any of these ads or naming the companies as we don’t want to give them any merit or attention. Just check your Instagram/Facebook/Twitter feeds.) This quick and easy mirage will not solve the problem, and is actually causing even more detrimental concerns. In this case, currently there is a severe stimulant shortage in the United States. This is not all to blame on the pill mills preying on social media users, but they have absolutely exacerbated the issue. 

So if fast and cheap won’t solve the problem, then where is the solution?

It’s all in the power of finishing strong! Mindful heuristics and habits and efficiencies that are the result of putting in the hard work, persevering, and overcoming are what it means to finish strong. Think of lifting weights for example. In order to lift more weight, you must first train your body to utilize the correct form using less weight. Putting in the work on the front end makes the back end so much easier (and in the case of weightlifting, so much safer as well). 

It is from that place of being inconvenienced and actively choosing to continue being inconvenienced because you’ve resolved to believe it’s worth it that the best habits can be formed. Remember, divide it up between body, mind, and spirit if it makes it more palatable for you to tackle your self-care goals. Mindful habits really help following through with your commitments. And that is what it means to utilize the power of finishing strong!

With a psychiatrist as our cofounder, we know what it means to put in the work and finish strong in the mental health care realm. Simply Psych and our clients always focus on quality first. We are experts in managing the back office functions for mental health experts: our clinicians. By providing the services to help therapists run a smooth, convenient practice (for both themselves and for the people they treat), financial returns are multiplied, goals are surpassed, and everyone can feel better together. Reach out to us at https://www.SimplyPsych.com to learn more!